Sound Teaching Regarding the Law and Gospel
When Yahweh, the God of Israel, gave the Law to Moses at Mount Sinai — it was good. It was good because God is good. The Law itself is good (Rom 7:12; 1 Tim 1:8). The problem is man’s sin nature and sinful flesh (Eph 2:3).
It is the Law of God that helps us to see sin, which by definition is lawlessness (1 Jn 3:4). The light of the Law exposes humanity for being sinful rebels against our Creator. This is demonstrated by the Law’s effect upon us. The Law came in that the transgression might increase (Rom 5:20). Therefore, those who try to live under the Law are under a curse (Gal 3:10).
There are some who have placed their trust in themselves to keep the Law of God. They are wrong in thinking that the Law was given by God to be an instrument of salvation. Shirking the demand of the Law for perfect obedience, they imagine that God judges them on a curve.
With passions aroused by the Law, the members of our bodies bear fruit unto death (Rom 7:5). We know that the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23); and in Adam, all die (1 Cor 15:22). Sin entered the world through Adam’s unbelief and disobedience (Gen 3). Later, the Law enlivened sin, and sinners die with knowledge of their disobedience. It is appointed for a man to die, once, and then comes the judgment (Heb 9:27). The judgment of our righteous God is just (Gen 18:25; Jn 5:30); and the sentence for sinners is eternal punishment in the fiery hell of the lake of fire (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15).
Paul wrote to Timothy at Ephesus, in part, to combat the strange doctrines that gave rise to speculations amongst believers (1 Tim 1:3–4). Instead, Paul wanted Timothy to instruct the church in sound doctrine, that is, the truth of the Gospel. We, too, must be warned against myths that lead to fear and fruitless discussions (1 Tim 1:4, 6).
Speculative spirituality is reckless religion. Those who have been called by God to be men of God are entrusted with the stewardship of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Cor 4:1–2; 9:17; Eph 3:2; Col 1:25; Titus 1:7). When God revealed Himself through His Son, humanity was confronted by the truth, as it is in Jesus, who is Himself the truth (Jn 14:6; Eph 4:21). There is no need for speculation because God has given us of His clear Word.
Paul wrote to the Romans regarding the state of the natural (unregenerate) man (Rom 1–3). In this, it is declared that no one is righteous, not even one (Rom 3:10–12). There is nothing good in us, that is, in one’s flesh (Rom 7:18). Elsewhere, including 1 Timothy 1:9–10, Paul employs vice lists to highlight sinful practices common to the natural man. You will know them by their fruit!
Total depravity is the doctrine that teaches us man is unwilling and unable to change his sinful plight or his condemnation under God’s Law (Jn 3:18; Rom 8:7), by his own power. Sinners are under the righteous wrath of God as enemies of God (Rom 1:18; 1 Thess 1:10) — lawless, rebellious, ungodly, unholy, profane, immoral, unethical, etc (1 Tim 1:9–10).
One observes the close parallel between 1 Timothy 1:9–10 and the Ten Commandments (Ex 20; Dt 5). The Ten Commandments are a succinct way of seeing the whole scope of the moral Law in abbreviated form. Later, Jesus taught that the whole Law was summarized into the two commands of: loving God and loving one’s neighbor as oneself. Thus, the goal of Christian instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith (1 Tim 1:5). It is the glorious Gospel of the blessed God that creates in us a pure heart and cleanses our consciences from the guilt of sin. We read and believe that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1). Truly, this is good news.
Christians praise God for so great a salvation. By His grace, alone, we have been saved. It is not by the will of man (Jn 1:12–13), nor in any way of ourselves (Eph 2:8–9). The grace of our Lord Jesus was that He came into the world to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21; 1 Tim 1:15). He saved us (Titus 3:5) because He is God our Savior (1 Tim 1:1).
This is the Gospel of grace which we preach. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (Rom 5:11; 2 Cor 5:18–20). He poured out His love into our hearts and showed us that Christ died for our sins (1 Cor 15:3). He shed His precious blood on the cross of Calvary that our sins would be forgiven in total (Eph 1:7; 1 Pet 1:19). He was raised from death to show us God accepted his sacrifice on our behalf (Acts 17:31; 1 Pet 2:24).
Sometimes God calls the unlikely man to be an elder/pastor for a local church. Paul was a persecutor of the church before he was converted on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). It is the Holy Spirit, who did a mighty work in transforming Paul from a sinner into a saint (2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2). He believed God, as did Abraham, and it was counted to him as righteousness.
We preach Christ crucified because in proclaiming His death for atonement of elect sinners, we declare the Christian faith handed down to us (Jude 3). In telling people the truth about sin and salvation we demonstrate our love for them as eternal souls.
The man of God, representing and resembling Jesus, must be found faithful and true (Rev 3:14; 19:11). He speaks the truth in love for people (Eph 4:15), regardless of how he or his message is received. He is sent to a local church congregation by God. For this reason, his feet are deemed “beautiful” because of the Gospel message he brings from afar (Prv 25:25; Rom 10:15).
The warning remains that the people did not receive the prophets, nor did they receive Jesus despite the miracles and wonders performed in their sight. Reverence for the elder/pastor is encouraged because of the hard work and charge given him from God to give you instruction with sound teaching.
May God richly bless you with an authentic man sent from God, who loves the Lord, loves God’s Word, and who will love you by telling you the truth. Amen.
David Norczyk Spokane Valley, Washington October 6, 2023
Article 3 in the series — 1 Timothy 1:8–11
